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Health & Fitness

Common Problems When Installing Laminate Flooring

What is laminate flooring?

Laminate flooring is made by fusing synthetic planks together using an adhesive under high heat. Laminate flooring looks as good as hardwood floors and it is less expensive, easier to maintain and is durable.

Installing laminate flooring

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Laminate flooring is installed much like hardwood flooring. The measurements of the room are taken, and the number of planks needed, their size etc are calculated. Laminate planks come in various sizes, and you can buy one that is closest to the measurements you need. The planks will then need to be cut and installed so that they fit the floor of the room perfectly.

Problems when installing laminate flooring

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1. Measuring the room: The first hurdle to cross is when measuring the room. Your calculations could get difficult if there are un-squared walls or badly set doors etc. These small imperfections can change your measurements slightly, and if not addressed, could leave you with imperfectly finished flooring. Make sure that you factor in gaps when doing your calculations. If there are swinging doors or cabinets that peep over the floor or shelves fitted in, make sure that you take all that into account when calculating.

2. Cutting the planks: The next problem is uneven cutting of the plank. When cutting the planks, you need to ensure that you cut neatly. A small incline is enough to upset the entire flooring and you will have to scrape and shave to refit. It is a good idea, to first test run the planks by cutting them and laying them out across the entire room to see whether they fit perfectly. It may be a tedious job but it is better than having to rip it out and refit them.

3. Marking the wall: If you lay out the flooring for a test run, mark the wall against which you are laying the planks, so that when you actually lay the flooring, it is right. If you are confident with your skills and are not doing a test run, you need to measure your wall and mark it. These will act as your pointers to lay the flooring. Many people don’t mark the walls when they start laying the floor, and end up with an uneven, irregular space at the end.

4. Making the planks fit: The planks usually will not fit alongside one another smoothly. They may have to be teased into place. Many people hammer the planks, trying to get them to fit. This will damage your planks and if you haven’t left enough gap, it could buckle when expanding. If you cannot tease it into place with some gentle taps, you should take out the plank, scrape the edge some more and try again.

5. Putting that last plank in place: This can sometimes be a nightmare for installers. Everything proceeds smoothly and at the last gap, you find that however you twist and turn it, the plank just won’t fit. This is the reason that it is important to be careful from the start. If you had been careful, you should be able to fit the last gap easily and neatly. If you haven’t, you may now have to shave and scrape till you make the plank the same size as the gap. Make sure the last plank is inserted into the side of the room that is far away from the door. In this way, if there is still a gap it will not be easily noticeable.

By taking care, installing should be a breeze. These few tips should help you iron out the common problems faced while installing laminate floors.

Reference: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laminate_flooring

Read the original article here: http://www.woodflooringsanjose.com/Blogs/2013/July/common_problems_when_installing_laminate_flooring...




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